Central Otago farmers are being reminded their application for Intensive Winter Grazing (IWG) consents must be in by May 1.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) will be actively monitoring the IWG season with some site visits and will be responding to complaints and other information received. 

The regulatory authority will focus on some areas for greater attention, including sites where farmers haven’t yet obtained consent.

Principal compliance specialist Mike Cummings said the ORC had completed its first farm flyovers for the IWG season.

“The first round of flyovers looking at any instream disturbances, forestry and IWG areas, has been completed, and staff are currently processing the photographic observations,” he said.

ORC staff are looking for things like forestry, machinery working in or around streams, rivers, wetlands and intensive grazing.

Mike said last year’s flyovers found “a massive positive change” in IWG practices compared to previous years.

“It was great to see the on-farm changes last year,” he said.

Acting consents manager Alexandra King said the ORC wants to ensure “farmers have the information and advice they need to manage their farm with minimal risk to the environment”.

“Applications have been open for more than six months, but it’s down to a couple of weeks left now,” she said.

The new regulations around IWG started on November 1, 2022. Applications for winter 2023 and beyond should be in by mid-April 2023 to ensure consents are in place by May 1, 2023.

“In most instances, we’re encouraging farmers to apply for consent for the next three to five years,” Alexandra said.

“Farmers will then need to update their management plan annually, telling ORC where they have grazed in the previous year and where they plan to graze during the next season.

“Farmers need to apply for the paddocks they’re likely to graze over the next few years; actual paddock selection and the day-to-day farm operation is still in the farmer’s hands.”

Complaints or information about IWG practices or other activities can be made to ORC’s Pollution Hotline, 0800 800 033.